I think Filipinos are, by nature, tribal. We stick to our "tribes" and consider other "tribes" as a possible threat. This is quite evident in our regionalism, among others. So perhaps the fraternity may be considered a substitute for a tribe for many Filipino males, and these members bring in the tribal mentality to their frat, which is "kalaban ang iba". Which I find really sad. Fraternities were meant to be different. They were meant to improve its members, not make them warriors. The membership is reflective of the organization. But then again, it is the membership that determines the nature of the organization.

Iron Bridge, on 21 April 2013 - 01:17 AM, said:

The fraternity system was meant to exist within the context and framework of an educational institution.

The senseless violence began when kicked-out (whether due to bad conduct and/or failed grades) fratmen (with nothing else better to do while in campus) saw it fit to just make life physically miserable for rival fratmen (a significant number of whom were also kicked out). Petty slugfests soon escalated to bloody rumbles. And it was only a matter of time before a fraternity rumble resulted in a violent death of a fratman.

The rest is history.

So the key once more is education. Once fratmen no longer have studies to concern themselves with and they're still in campus, this is what happens. What is worse are fraternities with no direct ties to an educational institution to begin with.

The above two posts reflect my exact sentiments. People now tend to have forgotten or are totally ignorant of why fraternities were originally founded in the first place.

The question here that needs to be qualified is what is your definition of the term "rival"? You see, a rivalry between two fraternities need not be of the violent type. So by definition, one can say that rivalry between Philippine fraternities was likely started by Rizal Center and Upsilon Sigma Phi. The way I see it, their rivalry hinges on getting the best students possible and setting up members for positions in the student government. The more honors its members accomplish, the better the fraternity is.

I may be mistaken but this is only based on what my very senior brods of the 40's and 50's told us by citing our founding members' stories during their time: The first rumble ever between two greek fraternities in UP was between TAU ALPHA and Beta Epsilon sometime in the 30's... because of a girl. I have names to go with that but I don't think I am at liberty to divulge such specific information. Most of our brods at that time were of the athletic type (being members of the various varsity teams) as compared to the more scholarly betans. You could just imagine the outcome of what happened...

We VALIDATE the Greatness and Glory of The Fraternity not through FALSE BRAVADO.

We rather defend the letters that we wear through facts, performance, and logic. Deal with it.

"Sail on, sail on, ye Argonauts, the Truth for each of you is there, for you to find. As you find it, so will you find the common good."

There are gangs and there are pseudo-frats... then there are fratmen and there are U.P. Fratmen... and finally, there are The Argonauts of U.P. Diliman.